Sidearm holsters

ABSTRACT

A sidearm holster having a latchable flap or strap composed of a spring metal strip having one end anchored in the rear part of the holster and arranged to snap upwardly when the flap is unlatched, and provided with a latching mechanism which can be manually actuated to positively unlatch the flap.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to sidearm holsters, particularly of thetype having a closing strap or flap extending around the rear end, i.e.the hammer or handgrip, of a holstered sidearm.

Existing holsters of this type serve to satisfactorily hold the sidearm,but do not provide complete security against surreptitious removal ofthe sidearm by one other than the wearer.

Moreover, the holster flap, even when opened, tends to lie over thesidearm and to impede drawing of the weapon, as well as its return tothe holster.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to reduce the possibility of removal ofa sidearm from its holster without the wearer's knowledge.

More specific related objects are to render opening of the holster flapby one other than the owner more difficult and to instantly warn thewearer if the flap should open.

Another object of the invention is to cause the flap, once open, toremain out of the path along which the sidearm is drawn from the holsterand returned thereto.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple and durablestructure providing such capabilities.

These and other objects of the invention are achieved by including inthe flap or strap a spring strip having one end anchored in the backpart of the holster to cause the flap or strap to snap up and slap thewearer's side when the strap or flap is unlatched, and by providing theholster with a latching mechanism which is manually actuable to unlatchthe strap or flap.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view showing a preferred embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the operating mechanism of theembodiment of FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to, and in the same direction as, that of FIG.2, showing the cover of the mechanism of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view along line 4--4 of FIGS. 2 and 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows a sidearm holster 1 provided with a closing strap 3 andlatching mechanism 5 according to the invention. The holster 1 isdesigned to receive a sidearm with its barrel extending downwardly tothe right of mechanism 5 and with the handgrip and trigger in the regionabove mechanism 5. Strap 3 passes around the hammer of the weapon.

According to one feature of the invention, strap 3 is composed of aspring steel strip having its end 3a securely anchored to the back partof the holster, this end of spring 3 being shown in broken lines. Theother end 3b of strap 3 lies, when in the closed configuration, againstthe front part of the holster and is provided with an element arrangedto cooperate with latch mechanism 5 to maintain the strap in such closedconfiguration, as shown in FIG. 1.

As long as the strap 3 is in the configuration shown in FIG. 1, thesidearm cannot be withdrawn from the holster.

To withdraw the holster, the wearer presses upwardly on a pushbutton 11extending from the housing of mechanism 5. This releases strap 3 andallows it to spring upwardly, clear of the sidearm.

Since the strap is composed of, or includes, a spring steel strip, itwill slap against the wearer's side at the end of its upward springingmovement. Therefore, if someone other than the wearer should attempt toremove the weapon, which would require first releasing the latchingmechanism, the resultant upward springing movement of strap 3 wouldimmediately alert the wearer to the attempt.

In addition, the positive upward springing movement of strap 3 brings itto a position where it is clear of the sidearm and thus does notinterfere with either withdrawal of the sidearm or its subsequent returnto the holster.

Strap 3 may consist simply of a spring steel strip, or it may becomposed of such a strip encased in leather or other material to matchthe remainder of the holster. Alternatively, the spring steel stripcould be embedded in a full flap which extends across the entire widthof the holster to completely cover the weapon.

While the holster is shown broken away in FIG. 1 in the region in whichpushbutton 11 is located, this region can be enclosed by the front andrear parts of the holster, in which case it cannot be seen and can onlybe reached via an opening in the bottom surface of the holster. Thisform of construction provides maximum security against accidentalopening of the holster flap by the wearer or unauthorized openingthereof by another. However, it also interferes with reliable rapiddrawing of the weapon when desired.

Rapid drawing of the weapon can be facilitated by forming the holsterparts so that the pushbutton region is open at the front and/or rearholster part, thus greatly enhancing access to the pushbutton.

A preferred embodiment of the strap latching system is shown in FIGS.2-4 to include a housing 12 which can have a rectangular, circular,elliptical, or other cross section and which may be formed of two halves12a and 12b joined together along a plane coextensive with the frontpart 21 of the holster. In FIG. 2, housing half 12a is removed to revealthe operating mechanism.

As is shown in detail in FIG. 4, each half may be provided with tabs 14by which the latching mechanism is secured to the front part 21 of theholster by rivets 15 extending between opposing tabs and through thematerial of the holster front part 21.

There are, of course, many other techniques available for fastening thehousing 12 to the holster, as by inserting the tabs through slits in theholster and bending the tabs back to cause them to grip the holstermaterial. The housing could be of one piece and could then be fastenedto the holster by only a single set of tabs, in place of the two setsdepicted in FIGS. 2-4. This single set of tabs could either be rivetedor crimped to the holster material, as described above. Other suitablefastening procedures, such as cementing or encasing the housing betweentwo plies of a multiple ply material, could be employed.

Within housing 12 there is disposed an operating rod 23 extending thelength of the housing and passing through aligned openings in the upperend 16 and the lower end 18 of the housing. Rod 23 carries a latchingplate member 25 at its upper end and pushbutton 11 at its lower end.

Rod 23 is disposed to permit latching member 25 to be moved upwardlyfrom a latching position to an unlatching position by upward movement ofpushbutton 11.

The rod 23 is biassed downwardly into the latching position of member 25by a helical compression spring 27 mounted around rod 23 and pressedbetween a circular flange 16', forming part of housing upper end 16 andsurrounding the opening through which rod 23 passes, and a shoulder 24rigidly fastened to rod 23 near housing lower end 18.

Shoulder 24 can be located along rod 23 to abut against lower end 18when member 25 is in its lower-most position, thereby defining thelatching position of member 25.

A pushbutton stop 28 fastened to housing lower end 18 serves as anabutment for pushbutton 11 and thus defines the limit of upward travelof latching member 25. Stop 28 can be mounted to permit adjustment ofthe location of its abutment surface.

Latching member 25 is provided with a generally keyholeshaped openinghaving a large diameter portion 25a and a narrow elongate portion 25b.Member 25 cooperates with a latch pin 31 having an enlarged head 31a andfastened at the free end of strip front portion 3b. The diameter ofenlarged head 31a is greater than the width of elongate portion 25b butless than the diameter of portion 25a, while the diameter of the shankof pin 31 is less than the width of portion 25b.

To guide latching plate 25 during its movement between its latching andunlatching positions, housing half 12a carries a cover plate 34 andhousing half 12b carried a backing plate 35. Plates 34 and 35 extendupwardly from housing upper end 16 and are spaced apart to provide apassage for latching plate member 25.

Cover plate 34 is provided with a rectangular opening for insertion ofpin 31 while backing plate 35 is provided with an opening to providecomplete insertion of pin 31 into the latching device. The upper edge35a of the opening in backing plate 35 serves as an abutment surface forengaging the enlarged head 31a of pin 31 to hold the pin in positionduring unlatching, as will be explained below with reference to theoperation of the latching mechanism.

To close the holster flap, it is pushed down by the wearer to bring pin31 into alignment with the opening in latching plate 25. Pin 31 on strap3 is then in the position shown in FIG. 4.

Then the wearer pushes upwardly on button 11 with one hand to bringopening portion 25a into alignment with head 31a, and pushes strap 3with the other hand to cause head 31a to pass through opening portion25a so that the shank of pin 31 is located in the opening in plate 25and the enlarged head 31a is located in the opening in backing plate 35.

Then, pushbutton 11 is released to lower plate 25 so that pin 31 engagesin narrow elongate opening portion 25b. Pin 31 is prevented from movingdown by the lower edge of the opening in plate 34 and such downwardmovement could, if necessary, also be prevented by suitably locating thelower edge of the opening in backing plate 35.

To open the holster flap or strap, it is only necessary to push upwardlyon button 11 to bring the large diameter portion 25a of the opening inplate 25 into alignment with enlarged portion 31a of pin 31, whereuponthe pin is unlatched and strap 3 snaps upwardly, slapping the wearer'sside. Any tendency of pin 31 to move upwardly with plate 25 during theunlatching operation is opposed by abutment of head 31a against edge35a.

Embodiments of the invention can be designed to hold any type of sidearmand need only be made slightly larger than conventional holsters toaccommodate the latching mechanism.

Closing and latching of the holster flap or strap involves a positiveoperation requiring two hands.

Mechanically, the structure and operation of the latching systemaccording to the invention are simple and foolproof. Virtually all partsof the system can be built into the holster leather or a weatherproofhousing to be protected from the elements.

The activation of the latch release mechanism is more convenient for thewearer than for other and the operating pushbutton could be concealed bythe front part of the holster or could conceivably be disguised to looklike a portion of the front part.

Operation of the pushbutton causes the flap or strap to instantly springclear of the sidearm, thereby facilitating rapid drawing and easyreplacement of the weapon. Because of this, the wearer will be instantlywarned if someone else should operate the latching mechanism.

The invention can be applied to any type of holster, including swivel orstraight holster or concealed, clip-on or harness-type holsters.

It will be understood that the above description of the presentinvention is susceptible to various modifications, changes andadaptations, and the same are intended to be comprehended within themeaning and range of equivalents of the appended claims.

I claim:
 1. In a sidearm holster having a closing member disposed toextend over the top of a sidearm held in the holster and movable into aclosed position for keeping the sidearm in the holster, and into an openposition for permitting withdrawal of the sidearm, the improvementcomprising:latch means carried by said closing member near the endthereof, which, when said closing member is in its closed position, isadjacent the side of said holster which faces away from its wearer; amanually operable latching mechanism mounted on said holster for holdingsaid latch means when said closing member is in its closed position,said latching mechanism being manually movable .Iadd. relative to saidholster by direct manual actuation .Iaddend.into a position forreleasing said latch means; and said closing member including springmeans for causing said closing member to spring into its open position,and to remain therein, upon release of said latch means.
 2. Anarrangement as defined in claim 1 wherein said closing member ispermanently connected to that side of said holster which faces thewearer when the holster is being worn, and said spring means comprise astrip of spring material joined to said closing member, having one endpemanently and immovably fastened to that side of said holster whichfaces the wearer when the holster is being worn, and having its oppositeend disposed at a point adjacent said latch means.
 3. An arrangementdefined in claim 1 wherein said latching mechanism is arranged to bemoved upwardly, when said holster is being worn, to reach the positionin which it releases said latch means, and said latching mechanismcomprises a pushbutton disposed to be pushed upwardly for moving saidlatching mechanism into such releasing position.
 4. An arrangement asdefined in claim 3 wherein said holster is provided with a recess in thevicinity of its bottom, said recess being accessible at least from thebottom of said holster and said pushbutton being located in said recess.5. An arrangement as defined in claim 4 wherein said latching mechanismfurther comprises a latch plate provided with a first opening and asecond opening located above said first opening and having a dimensionin the direction transverse to the movement of said latching mechanismwhich is smaller than that of said first opening, said first and secondopening being in communication, and wherein said latch means includes alatch pin extending transversely from said other end of said strip ofspring material and having a shank and an enlarged head disposed at thefree end of said shank, the diameter of said enlarged head being lessthan the dimension of said first opening in the direction transverse tomovement of said latching mechanism, and larger than the correspondingdimension of said second opening, and the diameter of said shank beingless than such dimension of said second opening.
 6. An arrangement asdefined in claim 5 wherein said latching mechanism further comprisesspring biassing means arranged for urging said latching mechanism in thedirection away from its said releasing position. .Iadd.
 7. In a sidearmholster having a closing member disposed to extend over the top of asidearm held in the holster and movable into a closed position forkeeping the sidearm in the holster, and into an open position forpermitting withdrawal of the sidearm, the improvement comprising:latchmeans carried by said closing member near the end thereof which, whensaid closing member is in its closed position, is adjacent one side ofsaid holster; a manually operable latching mechanism mounted on saidholster for holding said latch means when said closing member is in itsclosed position, said latching mechanism comprising a pushbuttondisposed to be manually pushed for moving said mechanism into a positionfor releasing said latch means; and said closing member including meansfor causing said closing member to spring into its open position, and toremain therein, upon release of said latch means. .Iaddend..Iadd.
 8. Anarrangement as defined in claim 7 wherein said means included in saidclosing member are spring means. .Iaddend.